Optical signal for automobiles and the like



July '26, 1949. A. A. VOLK 2,477,022

OPTICAL SIGNAL FOR AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 21, 1947 s sheets-sheet 1 Q INVENTOR: V ALBERT A. VOLK BY l ATTORNEY July 26, 1949. A. A. VOLK 2,477,022

I OPTICAL SIGNAL FOR AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 21, 1947' s Sheets-Sheet 2 r as *2 3 @er F lllllllllllllllll Z; WI!

' ATTORNEy A. A. VOLK OPTICAL SIGNAL FOR AUTOMOBILES AiID THE LIKE July 2 1949.

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 21, 1947 2 /////////////Z%/////////////Z/Z/Z 5 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx INVENTOR. ALBERT A. VOLK BYVMA ATTORNEY Patented July 26, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENTS OFFICE OPTICAL SIGNAL FOR AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE Albert A. Volk, New York, N. Y.

Application February 21, 1947, Serial No. 730,013'

5 Claims. (Cl. 177-327) My invention relates to optical signals for automobiles or other vehicles and, more particularly, to signals showing illuminated signs, letters or Words.

Objects of my invention are to provide one surface or area with illuminatable signs which spell different words or signals according to those signs that are illuminated at a time, to provide for illumination of some of these signs from one light source and for illumination of other signs from another light source, and to change the visibility or illumination of the signs, and consequently the signals by switching one or both light sources.

Other objects are to provide for relatively large and well readable signals arranged on an area of moderate size, to utilize substantially the same area for both alternatively used signals, and to make this possible by arranging parts of one signal between parts of the other signal.

Further objects are to provide for selective i1- lumination of the signs or of the parts of the signals, to compose these signs of light deflecting surfaces, that is, either of reflecting or of refracting surfaces, to arrange these deflecting surfaces so that some of them deflect rays from one light source into a suitable direction and that other surfaces deflect rays from another light source in a similar direction, and to arrange two light sources at different and suitable angles with respect to the deflecting surfaces.

Still other objects are to provide for visibility of the respective signal from the front side, and to provide for visibility of the same signal from the back side or to use the back side for the accommodation of a mirror whereby the signal device serves additionally as a reflector and can take the place of the usual rear reflecting mirror.

Still further objects are to attain these results by means that have light weight, are not bulky and can be easily attached to an automobile, to provide for easy and reliable operation and change of the signals, and to co-ordinate this operation. with the operation of the head-lights whereby, for example, dimmed head-lights are co-ordinated with a certain optical signal.

Still other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of exemplifying embodiments of my invention, from the appended claims and from the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 shows a front view of an illustrative embodiment of my invention, the front parts of light screens used in this embodiment being cut away along the line |l in Fig. 3.

Fig. 2 shows a front View of the same embodiment in which all details of the letters are omitted, except the outlines of those letters which are illuminated from the upper light source.

Fig. 3 shows a cross-section of a broken off part of the same embodiment, this cross-section being taken along the line 33 and seen from the right side in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows a top view of the same embodiment.

Fig. 5 shows a circuit for the operation of the same embodiment diagrammatically.

Fig. 6 shows a cross-section of a broken off part of a second embodiment, this cross-section corresponding to the cross-section of the first embodiment shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of one of the prisms used in the second embodiment.

Fig. 8 shows a front View of a third embodiment.

Fig. 9 shows a cross-section taken along the line 9-9 in Fig. 8. y

Fig. 10 shows a circuit for the operation oi the third embodiment diagrammatically.

Figs. 3, 6, 7 and 9 are represented on a larger scale than Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 8.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5, numeral 2 indicates a disc or plate which may be circular and may be afiixed to an automobile or other vehicle in any suitable manner, for example, in a manner similar to a rear reflecting mirror; The'plate 2 has a front surface 4 which is preferably perpendicular to the moving direction of thevehicle. A mirror 5 may be aiflxed to or inserted in the back'surface of the plate 2. r i

A light source or lamp 6 is positioned before the upper part of the surface land is held by an arm 1 afiixed to the plate 2. A similar light source 8 is positioned before the lawer part of the surface 4 and is similarly held. Each of the lamps 6 and 8 is prevented from radiating to the front side by a screen Ill. Each screen In is aflixed to the plate 2 and forms a wall of a space II which contains one of the lamps and is open only at that side which faces the other space II. The inner sides of the screens ID or those surfaces of these screens which face the surface 4 are preferably reflecting. For example, thesesurfaces are mirror-like polished.

The screens I!) leave the median zone of the surface 4 uncovered. This uncovered zone is provided with a large number of projections, some of which are indicated by numerals I3, l4, l5, l5 and I1. These projections form parts of letters, each letter being constituted by some of these projections. Preferably, the projections constituting one letter are arranged in about vertical 'h-rghenpositronssi n,

rowsand so that the projections of each row over- 7 lap in vertical direction or in the longitudinal direction of the rows with the projections of the neighboring row. The number of rows and pro- .iections may be larger than shown, the drawing containing a. restricted number for the sake of clearer representation. The projections may form intggralparts qgthe plate .g o r may be affixed to this plate in table m'anner.

Each at these projections has a li" htrefiecting front surface which is obliquely positioned with respect to the vertical plane of the surface 4 iii such a manner that the frontsfiitiacekof thiegipjro J'ection is inclined to and receives and reflects light from one of the sources 6 and; -8., Fore ample, the surface N3 of the projection 13 and the surface 19-01 the projection;l4;refiect:rays

originating from the lamp 6 while the surface 2i) of the projection l6 reflects rays from thelaihp 8.

some of the proj'ectipns have front surfaces o-f wliich porti' eth'es These s adowed peruhhh adjoining 'pro e are very smallfbecau eth 'lluinihatiiig li'ght does 'notmer' el'y i adi 'efi "the Iane OfFigIS but'also Iii? -(3i *tl'ie consi erable ciently large number of entl'y small and the {shadowed portions are 'so redheezgthat hhsta iallytliewholelarea f ,is illuminated.

'tien-{oi' "the reflectin shimmer eachihdiviuutn pte eetioh"i so chtse open, only the lamp 6 radiates and only those parts of the letters are illuminated that reflect light'from this lamp while a part of the letter A is blacked out. Thereby, the illuminated parts spell DIM as shown in Fig. 2. The operation of the switch 28 may be co-ordinated with 7 other operations of the driver, for example, with the switchin Qfthe head-lights l? re;ferably, the switch 28 the; art of o; n cited to the dimoiit pedalWhreby the at 28 opens automatically when the head-lights are dimmed. Thereby, the signal DIM serves notice to any meeting driver,tiiatftheZhead-lights are dimmed and that x v hadow ofvertically about perpendicularly t zoi'it'al dir'eetjiortto 2| and 2; origiiiati fleeting: mxthe :nireet tnesmweeg gr h rionset the arrows "23 and 24. This result may be attained by the following identic'alt'o the"corrwondlng partsintthe first from the lamp'li constitute a system comprising reflectingzsurfaces' de -sme ter ii'iioljiii'ation and higher position and eneetih g surrgeestr larger inclinations s and- 'loweif p6sitioiis 'while the projections reflecting ligh fifro' in thelainp "a constitute':alsiirfilhrsystem-comprisingreflecting"surfaces-of lsmallei'fnelilia misaridrowr positions and reficti'r'ig surfaces"oflai'r ii'iclinations"and lThefiai ea-shoitineths constituting gthse s'ig'ri of'visibilityaiisti ibutd'ov' ign ortl' efbodies bfi zontatl lines eras sctio'n reach- 'he tdo is requested'to dim his head-lights.

Fig. 6, belongs to another embodiment of my invention. This second embodiment differs from the'firstfdescribed einbodiment in that the light 7 radiated from the light sources is deflected by refractiiiga'nd not by reflecting surfaces. The plate 32 which may be positioned and affixed to a vehicle in similar "manner astheplate z for the first embodiment has o'ptiirfgs "wrthbu mes forming let't'ers- 'siir'iilar to the-:retters: of the first embodiment. Transparent bodies or prismsisoiii'e of which are-indieated'by 3 3334; -35, $8 and 31;

pass through 'these periings arihf-areaffiiteu tb each other and itoirthe iplate s2; zEa ch prism forms a part'oi ia lettergttre lt'ters be-i'iig 'divided into rows of overlapping parts -lnfa manner simi' bodimnt.

. All'partsof the'secondeinbiidiment,feiieeptthe parts constituting theletters,aresubstaiitfally embodiment; provided .thtttffrofit rand 'bacii iexchange theirrposit'ionsl "Fl to the second. embodiment the second embodiment is' si-mil ar to the met and 2, exceptth'ait the "element the places of the elementsir's to r: nd 'th'a t; seen tram .the back side, the. letters, Ofi'GOHrse', m'ust beformed was they appea'itin aimirrorin' order I ';Each' of the prism has tvifd refracti'rfg surfaces meetihgsinra horizontal ffe'dgepositioned behi n'rl thejback surface-ofthe plateifl. "For'eiiainplfeitli'e prism133 has ajback' surfiace'fl anii a frorit surface 39. g The, surface'j-et and jtjhe oirrsponding sufihgsaboutrrhmithiovier edge ofthe upperscre n It to the upper edge of the lower scren IEL The lamps fi iand azfare positioned:laterally'with respeetiliot tiiesie iline, merchant abve'tli 'ese lines, theiam timiaerzthe ei nfns Both-lambshave a distancea-fiom the fareai oi thelsigr'ial signs "or from the. reflecting surface that direction th-atliszibarallli tolthe lines: 6f vis lbi-l ity whelby raysrzradiatiiigr the limp hit this area or the reflecting:surr s tehgu any. t Thetlight sourcesliiand aremetncany ape atedbulbs or tubes; a fiipleg glow" discharge faces of the other-prisms reeelvelightfroin either of. thalamp's Bland-:8 in a ma'nner similar't the .reflectinglsurfaces of'thei'projection's int'he first I g embodiment, A substantial p'art *of this li'ght angles to; the" back sa i-tapes? tii'ese' -ahgles vary a radiate anmccnselu'mtiyeah partSof-the lettei-s are-illuminated whereby t e-senders spell DAM astox be seeririrfli'letf'lt "When the switchizfiis 7 ;Thisres11ltfis obtainedffor example 7 passes. through, the 'respective prismand;leaves the samethrough the-front 'surfa'ce a' 'cleflected' direction. Thesposition of *the 'fprismsfwith re 7 pent tattle: illuminating lig ht source? and the angles betweenpthe Leo-operating refractingi'stirfaces? a'reso measured t'hatfthespretailing leaving direction of the, lightiray fidints"*horlzontallyto the. .iiront: or in similar direction as "in f the first embodiment, V

following manner; "The prisms ffillumi the'lamp 6 form'atsysteiniconipi'ising ba ur facesin'clined'tojorwbliduely facingthe p 6 and frontsurface's positioned 'at 'sug'hfilydi ertht from the" bottom to the"top- "6f the letters prisms illuminated by the system comprising refractl sym" m ethically it'o tlie the fir'st systifwitli espe plane which has equal'{iilstanes fifin For example, rays 40 and 4| are deflected in the directions of the arrows 42 and 43.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 illustrate a third embodiment. Fig. 4 applies also to this embodiment. The third embodiment differs from the first and second embodiments in that all parts of one signal are illuminated by one light source and all parts of the other signal are illuminated by the other light source and that, in accordance therewith, the light sources are operated alternatingly while, in the two embodiments described before, one light source is operated in both cases of different signals. With exception of the arrangement of the letters and of the circuit, the third embodiment may be identical, for example, to the first embodiment. Similar projections, reflecting surfaces and so on may be used.

In the third embodiment, the surfaces deflecting light from the source 8 form letters some of which are indicated by 44, 45 and 46. For example, these letters spell the word BRIGHT. The deflecting surfaces dependent on the source 6 form letters 41, 48 and 49 which may, for example, spell the word DIM. All letters are distributed over substantially the same area, the letters or parts of the letters of one word or signal being placed between letters or parts of letters of the other word or signal. Thereby it is possible to make one signal independent from the spelling of the other signal and to use, alternatingly, two signals having no common parts.

The circuit shown in Fig. 10 is identical to the circuit shown in Fig. 5, except that instead of the wire 26 and the switch 28, a wire 50 and a switch 5| is used. The wire 50 connects one pole of the current source 25 to the switch 5|. This switch connects the wire 50 either to the tube 6 or to the tube 8. The operation of the switch 5| may be co-ordinated with the operation of the dim-out pedal in a manner corresponding to the co-ordination of the switch 28.

I desire it understood that my invention is not confined to the particular embodiments shown and described, the same being merely illustrative, and that my invention may be carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit of my invention as it is obvious that the particular embodiments shown and described are only a few of the many that may be employed to attain the objects of my invention.

Having described the nature of my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A signal device for an automobile or other vehicle, said device comprising a plurality of bodies forming signs distributed over an area visible from the front, two light sources positioned in different lateral directions out of the lines of said visibility and having a distance from said area in the direction of said visibility, some of said bodies having light deflecting surfaces inclined toward one of said light sources, some other of said bodies having light deflecting surfaces inclined toward the other light source, and means to switch off one of said light sources.

2. A signal device for an automobile or other vehicle, said device comprising a plate extending across the moving direction of the vehicle, a plurality of projections extending from said plate to the front and forming signs distributed over an area visible from the front, two light sources positioned in front of said area and in different lateral directions out of the lines of said visibility, some of said projections having light re- 5 fleeting surfaces inclined toward one of said light sources, some other of said projections having light reflecting surfaces inclined toward the other light source, and means to switch off one of said light sources.

3. A signal device for an automobile or other vehicle, said device comprising a plate extending across the moving direction of the vehicle, a plurality of projections extending from said plate to the front and forming signs distributed over an area visible from the front, two light sources positioned in front of said area and in different lateral directions out of the lines of said visibility, some of said projections having light reflecting surfaces inclined toward one of said light sources, some other of said projections having light reflecting surfaces inclined toward the other light source, the inclination of each of said reflecting surfaces being so measured that said surfaces reflect the light in about horizontal directions, and means to switch off one of said light sources.

4. A signal device for an automobile or other vehicle, said device comprising a plurality of bodies forming a signal consisting of signs distributed over an area visible from the front, a plurality of other bodies forming additional signs positioned in the same area and adapted to change said signal to a different signal, two light sources positioned in different lateral directions out of the lines of said visibility and having a distance from said area in the direction of said visibility, the bodies forming said first signal having light deflecting surfaces inclined toward one of said light sources, the bodies forming said additional signs having light deflecting surfaces inclined toward said other light source, and means to operate, optionally, either both light sources or said first light source alone.

5. A signal device for an automobile or other vehicle, said device comprising a plurality of bodies forming signs distributed over an area visible from the front, each sign comprising parallel rows of said bodies, the bodies of one row overlapping in longitudinal direction of the row with the bodies of a neighboring row, two light sources positioned in different lateral directions out of the lines of said visibility and having a distance from said area in the direction of said visibility, some of said bodies having light defleeting surfaces inclined toward one of said light sources, some other of said bodies having light deflecting surfaces inclined toward the other light source, and means to switch off one of said light sources.

ALBERT A. VOLK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

